Forbearing is a significant biblical concept that reflects the Christian virtues of patience, restraint, and tolerance. It is often associated with the ability to endure difficult situations or people with a spirit of grace and humility. The term is derived from the Greek word "anexikakos," which means to bear with or endure. In the context of Christian living, forbearing is closely linked to the fruit of the Spirit and is essential for maintaining unity and peace within the body of Christ.

Biblical References:

1. Ephesians 4:2 : "Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love." This verse highlights the importance of humility, gentleness, and patience as foundational attitudes for forbearing. It emphasizes that forbearing is an expression of love, essential for harmonious relationships among believers.

2. Colossians 3:13 : "Bear with one another and forgive any complaint you may have against someone else. Forgive as the Lord forgave you." Here, forbearing is directly connected to forgiveness. The call to bear with one another is a call to extend grace and forgiveness, mirroring the forgiveness that believers have received from Christ.

3. 2 Timothy 2:24 : "And a servant of the Lord must not be quarrelsome, but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, and forbearing." This passage instructs those who serve the Lord to embody a spirit of forbearance, avoiding quarrels and instead showing kindness and patience. Forbearing is presented as a necessary quality for effective ministry and teaching.

Theological Significance:

Forbearing is a reflection of God's character. Throughout Scripture, God is depicted as patient and long-suffering, enduring the failings and rebellions of humanity with a desire for repentance and reconciliation. Believers are called to emulate this divine patience in their interactions with others.

In the New Testament, forbearing is often associated with the community life of the church. It is a practical outworking of love that enables believers to live in harmony despite differences and offenses. Forbearing is not merely passive endurance but an active choice to maintain peace and unity.

Practical Application:

Forbearing is essential in personal relationships, church communities, and broader society. It requires a conscious effort to overlook minor offenses, extend grace, and prioritize the well-being of others over personal grievances. In a world often characterized by impatience and division, forbearing stands as a countercultural witness to the transformative power of the gospel.

Believers are encouraged to cultivate a forbearing spirit through prayer, reflection on Scripture, and reliance on the Holy Spirit. By doing so, they demonstrate the love of Christ and contribute to the building up of the body of Christ in love and unity.1. (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Forbear.

2. (a.) Disposed or accustomed to forbear; patient; long-suffering.

3114. makrothumeo -- to persevere, to be patient
... Speech: Verb Transliteration: makrothumeo Phonetic Spelling: (mak-roth-oo-meh'-o)
Short Definition: I suffer long, have patience, am forbearing Definition: I ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3114.htm - 7k

1933. epieikes -- seemly, equitable, yielding
... yielding. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: epieikes Phonetic Spelling:
(ep-ee-i-kace') Short Definition: gentle, mild, forbearing, fair, reasonable ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1933.htm - 7k

420. anexikakos -- enduring evil
... Phonetic Spelling: (an-ex-ik'-ak-os) Short Definition: enduring evil, patient of
evil Definition: enduring evil, patient of evil, patiently forbearing. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/420.htm - 7k

4722. stego -- to cover closely (so as to keep water out) ...
... 4722 -- properly, to place under , to -over (with a roof); (figuratively) to because ,
ie bearing up (forbearing) because under (). Word Origin a prim. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4722.htm - 7k

2310. chadel -- forbearing, lacking
... 2309, 2310. chadel. 2311 . forbearing, lacking. Transliteration: chadel
Phonetic Spelling: (khaw-dale') Short Definition: forsaken. ...
/hebrew/2310.htm - 6k

3557. kul -- to comprehend, contain
... be able to, can abide, bear, comprehend, contain, feed, forbearing, guide,.
A primitive root; properly, to keep in; hence, to measure ...
/hebrew/3557.htm - 6k

639. aph -- a nostril, nose, face, anger
... wrath with his anger (1). angry, before, countenance, face, forbearing,
forehead, longsuffering, nose,. From 'anaph; properly, the ...
/hebrew/639.htm - 6k

Seventeenth Sunday after Trinity. I Beseech You that Ye Walk ...
... I beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with
all lowliness and meekness, with long suffering, forbearing one another in love ...
/.../lyra germanica the christian year/seventeenth sunday after trinity i.htm

Psalm XCVI.
... be built up....The Apostle bindeth us together into this very structure, and fasteneth
us when bound together in that unity, saying, "Forbearing one another in ...
/.../augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm xcvi.htm

That the Union of Our Will with the Good-Pleasure of God Takes ...
... The Stoics, especially good Epictetus, placed all their philosophy in abstaining
and sustaining, bearing and forbearing; in abstaining from and forbearing ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter ii that the union.htm

The Revelation of the Old Testament in Writing.
... But His word was in my heart as a burning fire, shut up in my bones: and I
was weary with forbearing, but I could not.""Jeremiah 20:9. ...
/.../kuyper/the work of the holy spirit/xv the revelation of the.htm

Ephesians iv. 3-Jan
... the Lord, beseech you, to walk worthily of the calling wherewith ye were called,
with all lowliness and meekness, with long-suffering, forbearing one another ...
/.../homily ix ephesians iv 3-jan.htm

Objections Prevented. ...
... declare such an inspiration not to be divine, and forbid the executing of what it
directs, the subject ought not only to obey his superior by forbearing to do ...
/.../chapter ix objections prevented .htm

Fruits and the Two Works.
... is meant to patiently bear with the failings and foibles of our brother, "With all
lowliness and meekness, with long-suffering, forbearing one another in love ...
//christianbookshelf.org/orr/the gospel day /chapter vi fruits and the.htm

we have not only so high a pattern, but so excellent a motive
... at length, charity, by lowliness and meekness, is the most durable, enduring,
long-suffering thing in the world, "with long suffering, forbearing one another ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/chapter ii i .htm

Attributes of Love.
... It designates a sweet and forbearing temper under provocation. ... We are naturally
forbearing toward those whose good we honestly and diligently seek. ...
/.../finney/systematic theology/lecture xv attributes of love.htm

Colossians iii. 7-May
... lest he should place them [841] in light estimation, but "a heart of compassion,
kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; forbearing one another, and ...
/.../homily viii colossians iii 7-may.htm

Forbearing (10 Occurrences)
...Forbearing (10 Occurrences). Ephesians 4:2 With all lowliness and meekness, with
longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; (KJV ASV WBS YLT RSV). ...
/f/forbearing.htm - 9k

Long-forbearing (1 Occurrence)
Long-forbearing. Longevity, Long-forbearing. Long-haired .
Multi-Version Concordance Long-forbearing (1 Occurrence). ...
/l/long-forbearing.htm - 6k

Forbear (24 Occurrences)
... breathing," the "nose," hence, from violent breathing, "anger" ('erekh, "long,"
understood), and kul "to hold," are translated "forbearing" (Proverbs 25:15 ...
/f/forbear.htm - 16k

Forbearance (9 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) Toleration of an offense; patience. 2. (n.) The quality of being forbearing;
indulgence toward offenders or enemies; long-suffering. Int. ...
/f/forbearance.htm - 10k

Longevity

/l/longevity.htm - 9k

Quarrel (22 Occurrences)
... Colossians 3:13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have
a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. ...
/q/quarrel.htm - 15k

Useless (47 Occurrences)
... 1 Thessalonians 3:5 because of this also, I, no longer forbearing, did send to know
your faith, lest he who is tempting did tempt you, and in vain might be our ...
/u/useless.htm - 19k

Long-haired (1 Occurrence)
Long-haired. Long-forbearing, Long-haired. Longing . Multi-Version Concordance ...
(BBE JPS NAS RSV). Long-forbearing, Long-haired. Longing . Reference Bible
/l/long-haired.htm - 6k

Wake (34 Occurrences)
... state of being awake. 11. (n.) The state of forbearing sleep, especially
for solemn or festive purposes; a vigil. 12. (n.) An annual ...
/w/wake.htm - 17k

Forbears (1 Occurrence)

/f/forbears.htm - 6k

What does the Bible say about forbearance? | GotQuestions.org

Forbearing: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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